Series: A to Z « [last year's girl]

a to z: with a book in each hand;

Published on October 20, 2009 in music and photography. 3 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, john allyn smith sails, okkervil river.

This entry is part 1 of 25 in the series A to Z

I’m quite proud of what I’ve come up with on this little series of pictures, so I’m going to attempt a little bit of mp3 blogging/self-portrait crossover based around a current music-related sub-project within a project. Follow that if you will, or just download the songs and tell me I’m pretty

Gale force winds on the Squinty Bridge meant that this was probably the first time I’ve risked serious harm for the sake of my 365Days project, but I quite like how this snatched iPhone shot turned out after a little post-processing. And I really enjoying getting to walk the first couple of miles home of a summer evening.

As I work my way through my musical A-Z, it starts to become obvious how many of my favourite songs are about drugs, religion or suicide. This track, by Austin’s hyperliterate Okkervil River, takes the latter theme – specifically the suicide of the 20th century American poet, John Berryman – and by linking it with naval imagery and an instantly recognisable Beach Boys refrain creates a song that is sweeping, epic and almost triumphant.

DOWNLOAD: Okkervil River – John Allyn Smith Sails [MP3]
BUY: The Stage Names at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: this tornado loves you;

Published on October 14, 2009 in music and photography. 0 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, mp3s, neko case, this tornado loves you.

This entry is part 2 of 25 in the series A to Z

Yes, I am well aware of how bonkers this shot looks in the context of it now being grizzly October rather than sunny July, but I still like it.

Since I really hated yesterday’s attempt at N, and I was playing Neko Case as I wandered down by the river, I’m having another shot at it.

Besides, this is probably my favourite song from my favourite album (thus far) of 2009.

DOWNLOAD: Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You
BUY: Middle Cyclone at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: there will be no divorce;

Published on October 6, 2009 in music and photography. 4 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, mp3s, the mountain goats, there will be no divorce.

This entry is part 3 of 25 in the series A to Z

See, I’ve already photographed my two favourite "M" songs (by Marah and Matthew Ryan respectively), so I was struggling a little… until Jay suggested what really should have been obvious.

So M is for The Mountain Goats.

DOWNLOAD: The Mountain Goats – There Will Be No Divorce [YSI]
BUY: The Coroner’s Gambit at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: she’s just that kind of girl;

Published on September 29, 2009 in music and photography. 0 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, lucero, she's just that kind of girl.

This entry is part 4 of 25 in the series A to Z

The pirate flag was Jay’s idea. I had to stand on tippytoes to get it off the bathroom wall, and there’s no chance I’ll get it back up on my own. It’s a silly little thing, but it means something to us. As does my “L” band, the phenomenal Lucero, as does this little blue dress.

Incidentally, if you are not all over forthcoming album 1372 Overton Park yet, you are no friend of mine.

DOWNLOAD: Lucero – She’s Just That Kind of Girl [YSI]
BUY: REBELS, ROGUES, & SWORN BROTHERS at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: little miss queen of darkness;

Published on September 22, 2009 in music and photography. 1 Comment Tags: 365days, A to Z, little miss queen of darkness, the kinks.

This entry is part 5 of 25 in the series A to Z

I’m quite proud of what I’ve come up with so far on this little series of pictures, so I’m going to attempt a little bit of mp3 blogging/self-portrait crossover based around a current music-related sub-project within a project. Follow that if you will, or just download the songs and tell me I’m pretty

K is for The Kinks, and with my muse down in London I went for perhaps my favourite of their songs, rather than the most obvious.

DOWNLOAD: The Kinks – Little Miss Queen of Darkness [YSI]
BUY: Face To Face at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: lots of baggage, not much clothes;

Published on September 1, 2009 in music and photography. 1 Comment Tags: 365days, A to Z, downliner, jesse malin, mp3s.

This entry is part 6 of 25 in the series A to Z

Second week in a row my musical photo has been timeous – this was taken the night before we went to Dublin, and tomorrow I am off to the US until next Friday.

This? This is one of my all-time favourite songs. I’ve begun a series of posts here, as you know, on “the ten artists who shaped me“. I’m working on them in something approaching chronological order, so I haven’t gotten to Jesse Malin yet, but I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that I will (possibly next, in fact).

I used to listen to this song, pulling backwards into a city I romanticised, before I moved there and the little things lost their significance. And Jesse was the one who gave me “Last Year’s Girl” – but that’s a whole other song and a whole other story.

Also, ewww, pale legs.

DOWNLOAD: Jesse Malin – Downliner [YSI]
BUY: The Fine Art of Self Destruction at Amazon.co.uk.

You might get one more post out of me before I head west, but if not… be good! I’ll be on Twitter if/when I can.

a to z: let’s just be retro and disco and twee!;

Published on August 26, 2009 in music and photography. 3 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, mp3s, our daughters will never be free, the indelicates.

This entry is part 7 of 25 in the series A to Z

189. Let's Just Be Retro And Disco And Twee!

The never told you the transferrable life skills that the 365 Days project would teach you. Like how to operate a remote camera trigger while engaging in some light bondage with one of your boyfriend’s ties.

It’s sheer coincidence that this blog is on this much of an Indelicates kick this week, as this photo is now six weeks old!

DOWNLOAD: The Indelicates – Our Daughters Will Never Be Free [YSI]
BUY: American Demo at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: i’ll probably go and get myself all gone again;

Published on August 18, 2009 in music and photography. 4 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, how a resurrection really feels, mp3s, the hold steady.

This entry is part 8 of 25 in the series A to Z

188. I'll Probably Go And Get Myself All Gone Again

H was always going to be for The Hold Steady.

There are many reasons why they’re my favourite contemporary band. Their infectious, energetic stage presence, the fact that they’re these five guys who were never and will never be “cool”. And the lyrics; god, the lyrics. It’s trouble, redemption and my own residual Catholic guilt. It’s clever, druggy, messy, teenaged, literary. And the first time I heard this, the closing track from their second (and my favourite) album Separation Sunday, I couldn’t stop crying.

Unfortunately 80% of the YouTube videos were scenes from One Tree Hill. Not entirely sure how they pulled THAT off…

DOWNLOAD: The Hold Steady – How A Resurrection Really Feels [YSI]
BUY: Separation Sunday at Amazon.co.uk

a to z: even cowgirls get the blues;

Published on August 12, 2009 in music and photography. 5 Comments Tags: 365days, A to Z, even cowgirls get the blues, mp3s, the gaslight anthem.

This entry is part 9 of 25 in the series A to Z

Not a perfect shot by any manner of means, but there’s only so long you want to hang around a Glasgow park on your own with an expensive-looking camera on a Friday night. Particularly when you’re wearing an awesome hat.

Incidentally, this song shares its title with the book I am currently reading. I didn’t know it was a book, and only vaguely aware it was a film, before I posted the photo. Please don’t judge me.

DOWNLOAD: The Gaslight Anthem – Even Cowgirls Get the Blues [YSI]
BUY: The ’59 Sound at Amazon.co.uk.